Johnny Gaudreau and Jonathan Huberdeau ended up in a dead heat last season. Each forward had 115 points, tied for second in the NHL behind the Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (123).
Gaudreau had 40 goals and 75 assists for the Calgary Flames. He finished fourth for the Hart Trophy, which goes to the NHL’s most valuable player as voted by the Professional Hockey Writers Association, behind Toronto Maple Leafs center. Austin MatthewsMcDavid and New York Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin.
Huberdeau had 30 goals and 85 assists, and finished fifth for the Hart.
Now each is in a new place. Gaudreau signed a seven-year, $68.25 million contract ($9.75 million average annual value) with the Columbus Blue Jackets as an unrestricted free agent on July 13. Huberdeau and defenseman MacKenzie Weegar were traded to the Flames in the deal for forwards Matthew Tkachuk on July 22, and Huberdeau signed an eight-year, $84 million contract Aug. 4 that begins with the 2023-24 season.
They play the same position, left wing, and are almost exactly the same age. Gaudreau turned 29 on Aug. 13. Huberdeau turned 29 on June 4.
Which player will have more points with his new team this season?
That’s the question NHL.com columnist Nicholas J. Cotsonika and senior writer Dan Rosen debate in this installment of State Your Case.
Cotsonika: The first reason to pick Gaudreau is that this is what he wanted. He wasn’t traded unexpectedly. He chose to leave Calgary and go to Columbus of his own free will, because he felt this would be the best situation for him, his family and his career. He left the Canadian pressure cooker, and although there will still be pressure to live up to the contract and be a difference-maker for the Blue Jackets, he’ll be in a less intense market in the United States closer to his childhood home. Salem, New Jersey. He’ll be more comfortable. His family will be more comfortable. His extended family will be able to visit more easily and often. He made this move for a reason, and it should pay off on the ice.
Rosen: All of what you wrote about Gaudreau is true, Nick. None of it cuts to the heart of the matter. He had 115 points playing with center Elias Lindholmwho in my mind is basically Alexander Barkov light (yes, that’s a compliment to Lindholm). Huberdeau had 115 points playing with Barkov. Now he gets to play with Lindholm and potentially Tyler Toffoli on the Flames’ first line. Toffoli is a goal-scorer. Lindholm is a two-way center who can distribute the puck and score. Remember, he scored 42 goals last season. Huberdeau will still be able to be a playmaker on this line in the same way he was with the Panthers. Gaudreau will not play with a true No. 1 center. Boone Jenner, Jack Roslovic and Cole Sillinger are the candidates to be his center in Columbus. None of them is a 40-goal scorer. None of them is a point-per-game player like Lindholm was last season with 82 points (40 assists) in 82 games. Yes, Patrick Laine is there, but Gaudreau will have to do more work to get his points this season and he won’t get as many as Huberdeau.
Cotsonika: Yeah, I figured that was coming. Obviously, Calgary is a better team, Columbus doesn’t have a center like Lindholm, and it remains to be seen how chemistry develops at even strength and on the power play. But Gaudreau can drive a line like a center, like Patrick Kane does for the Chicago Blackhawks on the right wing, and let’s not act like the Blue Jackets don’t have personnel and potential. I think Gaudreau can help Laine rediscover his scoring touch. Remember, the No. 2 pick of the 2016 NHL Draft scored 44 goals with the Winnipeg Jets in 2017-18. If Gaudreau doesn’t click with Laine, maybe he can help Jakub Voracek. Remember, Voracek scored 20 goals in three seasons in a row for the Philadelphia Flyers from 2016-19. Then there’s Zach Werenski on the back end. Do the Flames have a defenseman who can make plays like he does?
Rosen: No, the Flames do not have a defenseman that can make plays like Werenski. But they didn’t last season and they still had three 40-goal scorers and two 100-point players (Tkachuk had 42 goals and 104 points). So that won’t limit Huberdeau either. The other thing is the flip in the market. You mentioned in your first case that Gaudreau will have it easier, at least pressure-wise, in Columbus. I disagree. His contract will provide enough pressure. He’s there to produce and win. And he doesn’t have another 100-point scorer like he did in Calgary with Tkachuk. But Huberdeau is going from Florida to Calgary. He’s a Canadian guy getting to play in a Canadian market. My guess is he will want the pressure of that and be fueled by it. He had 115 points last season in Florida without much pressure on him. He’ll embrace the market he’s in now and the contract he has, and be better for it. He may not get to 115 points again, but I think 95 will be enough to best Gaudreau this season. And that’s not unreasonable considering the team he’s on and the players he’ll play with.
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